Eriachne burkittii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 4–13 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 10–20 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–6 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface villous; hairy below. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Jansen 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.